Practice apparatus



Oc 25, 1938. F, H DICKSON 2,134,328

PRACTICE APPARATUS Filed June so, 195'? 2 Shets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Oct. 25, 1938.

F. H. DICKSON 2,134,328

PRACTI CE APPARATUS Filed June 50, 1937 .B 3g E 30 E2 E] 33 Q w 20 0 27 o aw. 4'

' I 25 o 4 24, /0 I q /s z r I INVENTOR ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED sTATEs rA'rsNrorrics PRACTICE APPARATUS Frank H. Dickson, Auburn,-j Application June so, 1937, Serial hie-151,278 4 Claims] (clQzifs'--2 The invention relates to a practice apparatus and more especially a ball throwing apparatus or device for batting-practice. g

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus or device of this character, wherein a ball can be thrown automatically so that batters may practice the striking of the ball while in motion, thereby enabling baseball players to improve their batting and hitting averages through the use of such apparatus or device. I

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus or device of this character, wherein the ball to be hit is suspended from a flexible element carried by an oscillatory and rotary staff or pole, the latter being driven for the swinging of the ball in a circuitouscourse for the purpose of enabling batters to practice the hitting of the ball while in motion, the momentum to the staff or pole being effected either manually or mechanically.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus or device of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and effective in operation, strong, durable, enabling baseball players to practice batting and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred and modified forms of embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an apparatus or device constructed in accordance with the invention, showing by full lines one position of the staff 40 or pole and by dotted lines other positions thereof when the device or apparatus is active.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevation partly in section of platform orbase In which in this instance is substantially rectangular in shape and is constructed from'wood although it may be of any other shape and made from any suitable material. Uponthisfplatform or base l0 rises a stand it involving atop l2 which is elevated the required distance from the platform or base 10, the top l2 in this instancebeing of substantially rectangular shape having at its center an elongated slot l3 disposed longitudinally in said top and through which passes an upstanding staff or pole l4 preferablysectional, these being separably joined with each other for rigidity in said staff or pole throughout the longitudinal extent thereof. g

Interiorly. of the stand H and centered with respect to the longitudinal axis of the staff or pole is aflf ged bearing 15, its legs It being secured at/Il to the platform or base [0 and within this bearing is journaled' a vertically disposed driven shaft l8 which is also 'journaled in a supplemental bearing l9'at the platform or base H3. The driven shaft I8 through a universal joint 26 has direct connection with the staff or pole it while loose on this driven shaft l8 are the spaced reversing gears 2|, these meshing with a companion gear 22 driven in this instance from an electric motor 23, the connections of the latter with said gear 22 being indicated at 24. Between the reversing gears 2| and splined or keyed upon the driven shaft I8 is a shiftable clutch 25 adapted for alternate engagement with clutch faces 26 on said reversing gears 2| so that either of these gears may be locked with the driven shaft I8 and thus controlling the direction of rotation of the staff or pole M. The clutch 25 is operated by a throw lever 21, it having a hand release latch 28 coacting with a segment keeper rack 29 so that the lever 21 can be held in its thrown position. The rack 29 is carried by the stand II. I

At one side of the driven shaft I8 is a second driven shaft 30 journaled in a bearing 3| rising from the platform or base l0 while fixed to the said shafts'lB and 30 are the meshing gears 32 and 33, respectively, so'that motion from the shaft l8 will be transferred to the shaft 30 for the rotation of the latter.

Journaled in the top l2 of the stand H in vertical alignment with the shaft 30 is a rotatable crank shaft 34 carrying a clutch part 35 fixed thereto while splined or keyed to the shaft 30 is a sliding clutch 36 cooperative with the clutch part 35 for the clutching of the crank shaft 34 with the shaft 30. The sliding clutch 36 is operated by a throw arm 31 pivoted in a hanger 38 fixed to and depending from the top 12 within the stand ll.

Loosely fitted about the staff or pole I4 is a collar 39 to be held against longitudinal displacement on said staff or pole I4 but permitting the latter to freely rotate within this collar. Pivoted to the collar 39 is a forked link 40 which is also pivoted at 4| to a coupling pin 42 loosely -playing within a slot 43 in the crank 44 of the "crank shaft 34. This crank shaft 34 when rotated imparts oscillatory or rocking movement to the staff or pole l 4, it playing freely within the slot l3 under such rocking or oscillatory move-' ment and at the same time the said staff or pole 14 will be rotated by the driven shaft l8.

At the upper end of the staff or pole I4 is fixed a sling arm or bracket 45 which is at right angles to the latter and on the outer end of this arm or V bracket is attached a sling cable, cord or other flexible element 43 on which is held at its outer opposite end a ball or other flight object 41. Under oscillation and rotary motion imparted to the staff or pole l4, the ball or other object 41 will be caused to swing or become set in motion so that a batter can practice the hitting of the ball while in motion for practice purposes.

In Figure 5 of the drawings there is shown a modified form of apparatus or device, wherein a pole or staff 48 at its lower end 49 is swiveled in a socket or seat 50 provided in the upper face of a stand plate or bed 5| while rotatably carried at the upper end of this pole or staff 48 is a coupling head 52 having attached thereto a sling cable, cord, rope or the like 53 which at its outer or opposite end carries a ball 54. This staff or pole is manually operated by a user thereof when standing upon the stand plate or bed 5| for giving flight to the ball 54 andsetting it in motion for batting practice. The staff or pole 48 when manually operated is turned in a. rotary path and can be wobbled for changing the direction of motion of the ball 54 in flight.

by said sling element.

2. An apparatus of the kind described comprising an upstanding pole, means rotatably supporting said pole, a flexible sling element connected with the pole at the uppermost portion thereof,

means for rocking the pole during rotary movement thereof, a striking objectcarried by said sling element, and means for imparting rotation to the supporting means.

3. An apparatus of the kind described comprising an upstanding pole, means rotatably supporting said pole, a flexible sling element connected with the pole at the uppermost portion thereof, means for rocking the pole during rotary movement thereof, a striking object carried by said sling element, means for imparting rotation to the supporting means, and means associated with the last-named means for reversal of rotation thereof,

4. An apparatus of the kind described comprising an upstanding pole, means rotatably supporting said pole, a flexible sling element connected with the pole at the uppermost portion thereof, means for rocking the pole during rotary movement thereof, a striking object carried by said sling element, means for imparting rotation to the supporting means, means associated with the last-named means for reversal of rotation thereof, and manually operated means for moving the second-named means into and out .of action, and manually actuated means for moving the reversing means to positions for reversal of rotation of the pole-supporting means.

FRANK H. DICKSON. 

